Peter Sagan presented a new pearl winning the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal. The Slovakian champion of Cannondale Pro Cycling took a solo win thanks to an attack at 5 km to go that highlighted, for the umpteenth time, all his class. In a hard day of race, characterized by a long breakaway and by a series of attacks, Sagan kept calm and launched his decisive attack in one of the hardest part of the route. Nothing to do for the chasing group, leaded by Ponzi (second) and Hesjedal (third) and arrived 4″ behind Sagan.
“It was hard to win today and this makes me more and more happy” said Sagan. “Everyone wanted a tough race to select the peloton for the finale. The profile of the race was perfect for this strategy. I expected attacks in the final kilometres and my thought was the same. I didn’t want any surprises. I waited the last climb to attack because was the best moment to make the difference and to go on my own, as well as because I saw the others a little bit tired. I felt good, I tried and I made it. It’s a great win for me and for Cannondale Pro Cycling. Two days ago in Québec I tried the same action, now I’ve taken my revenge. For sure it was the perfect test in view of the Worlds in Florence: this is the answer I expected from these races”.
For Sagan it’s the 22nd victory in 2013, the 58th since he became professional. An extraordinary tseries of wins since the 1st of August: 4 at the USA Pro Challenge, 3 at the Tour of Alberta and now the GP de Montréal. For Cannondale it’s the 35th success of the season (second for today with Viviani at the Tour of Britain) and the 10th in the UCI World Tour circuit.
Ron Callahan is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.